Typewriting machine



Jan. 12 1926.

J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed NOV.1 -.2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet i Jan. 12 1926.

J. A. BLSMiTH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed NOV. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,5 9,636 PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE-A. B. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filedNovember 12, 1923. Serial No. 674,183.

' Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following 1s a specification.

, rolls.

This invention relates to introducing and controlling the work-sheets in a front-strike typewriting machine for use in'keeping accounts and the like.

Usually a long sheet is retained in the typewriter to receive carbon-impressions of the entries that are made on successive individual sheets. The record-sheet -with its carbon remains in the machine while each individual sheet is released and withdrawn and replaced bya succeeding individual sheet.

The individual sheets maybe in the nature of cards or heavy paper, such as employed by banks for receiving entries from time to time for its various customers, each customers account having one sheet upon which entries are made from day to day. These individual sheets are thrust down at the front of the platen while the recordsheet and carbon remain in place around the platen. One of the objects of the invention is to improve the means for retaining the record-sheet in the machine. The record,- sheet whichis wider than the individual sheet, is held by its side margins against the platen while the individual sheets are removed, its holding means being usually applied to the record-sheet to press the same against the platen at points above the printing line. The individual sheets are apt to disarrange the record-sheet when the latter has advanced so far that its bottom edge is only a short distance below the printing line.

To overcomethis difiiculty, the present improvement provides spring-pressed fingers or devices to press the record-sheet against the platen below the printing line, and preferably just back of the front feed-rolls, which run upon the underside of the plat-' en. These detaining devices are connected to, the rock-shaft which releases the feed- This' shaft extends along the under side of the platen. When the release is depressed, the rockshaft turns and permits the spring-pressed fingers or plungers to pass up through holes in the paper-apron and press the record-sheet against the platen, thus detaining the same while the released individual work-sheets are pulled out and replaced by others. Owing to this pro vision, the record-sheet can remain in the machine for many more lines of record to be placed on the bottom portion thereof than has been practicable heretofore. These holding fingers can be connected to collars which are secured by screws upon said releasing shaft, so that they may be adjusted along the shaft to any required points.- The paper-apron can be perforated at the point required for the plunger to pass up therethrough against the paper. A clear path is presented over the apron for the leading edge of the front-introduced. individual work-sheet.

Machines for this purpose generally have latens and platen-carriages of great engt-h, and much time is lost in reaching for and finding the release-key when it is desired to withdraw an individual sheet and insert another, said release-key being at variable distances from the hand of the operator according to the position of the carriage, and often at a great distance from said hand.

A feature of. the inventionis the provision of means whereby, with either hand, and from any point along the platen, at the front of the latter, the operator may release the feed-rolls; thus obviating the necessity of movement of the operator s hand to the end of the carriage, as heretofore.

A feature of the invention is a feedroll-releasing bar extending lengthwise of the platen, the full length thereof, and having means on each of the side pieces of the platen-carriage for supporting the same, in such manner that the bar may comprise part of a stiff bail movable as a unit, to have the same feed-roll releasing action no matter what point thereof is struck-by the operator.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view,- in end elevation, part ly cross-sectional, of the platen-carriage andassociated parts of a typewriting machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of Ilism may be that shown in the standard "to (draw down the feed-rolls.

bearing upon the arms 22,

one of the record-sheet retaining clips and mounting thereof.

Figure 3 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 3.

A platen 10, by means of an axle 11, is journaled in the side pieces 12 of the platenframe. This frame is shiftable up and down between case-positions by any suitable mechanism, not shown. For supporting the platen-frame andassisting in the caseshift of the latter, pins 13 on the side plates of the platen-frame are, set upon 'arms 14 fast to a rock-shaft 15, upon which shaft is a spring, not shown, tending to lift the platen-frame. The case-shifting mecha- Underwood typewriting machine.

The platen-frame is also provided with a paper-shelf .16, which forms an extension of the .usual rear paper-table 17 and apronextension 18, for guiding work-pieces down behind the platen and around under the same to the printing line atthe front thereof. The usual front feed-rollers 19 are also provided. The front rolls 19 are on a shaft 21, seated on the arms 22 of bell-crank levers pivotally mounted on a shaft 23', secured to the end plates 12 of the platen-frame. The bell-crank levers which comprise the arms 22 have other arms '26 which depend to the rear of a shaft 27. Leaf springs 29, tend to rock the arms upward to throw the feed-rolls against the platen, and thereforetend to press the arms 26 against the shaft 27." The shaft 27 has flats 30 cut therein-where the arms 26 engage the same.

When the feed-rolls are in effective position, the arms 26bear against the flats30; When, however, the shaft 27 is'rotated, the arms 26 are forced rearward The shaft 27 "is journaled in the side plates 12. of the platen-frame. Just described, is that found i n'the standard Underwood typewriting machine.

For throwing off the feed-rolls, the'following device is employed. Fast to the shaft 27 is an arm 31, which is connected at .one end to a link 32; the other end of the link 32 being connected to a bell-crank lever 33 on a stub-shaft 34, mounted in the right-hand side plate of the platen-frame. One arm 35 ofthis bellcrank lever connects with a link 36, which extends forward and connects at 37 to one arm 38 of a bellcra lever fixed to a rock-shaft 39. The rock-shaft 39, at its ends, 'has bearing in brackets 40 secured to the the carriage. The bell-crank lever, of which the arm 38 forms a part, also has a forwardly-extending arm 44 which supports the right-hand end of a bar 45. The lefthand end of this bar 45 is supported by an The feed-roll mechanism,

side pieces 41 of arm 46, also made fast to the rock-shaft 39. Pressure on bar 45, as by-the palm, at any point of the bar, results in movement of the bar from the dotted-line Figure 1 position to the full-line Figure 1 position, thereby causing the link 36 to be drawn forward, bell-crank arm 35 to be rocked counterclockwise, and the'link 32 to be drawn up to release the feed-rolls. Lips 47, offset from the lower edges of the bar-supporting arms44 and 46, by engagement with the carriage side pieces 41, determine the downward movement, and roll-releasing position, of the bar 45.

It will be noted that the link 36, which the case-position of the shift-frame. It will 1 be understood that the carriage has movement, in the usual manner, in letter-feed and return directions, on the main frame 48 of the machine. At its rear, the carriage rides upon a rail 49 on the main frame, and, at its front, the carriage is provided with a roll 50, which travels on a runway 51 on the main frame.

In the drawings, a record-sheet 52, faced by a carbon-sheet 53, is shown ashaving been fed down the table 16 and around the platen, and as having the typed portion thereof extending the platen. having its leading end turned, at 54, over the leading end of the record-sheet, so that the two sheets may be fed into the machine and around the platen as a unit, without slipping of one on the other. The recordsheet, as hereinafter explained, is to receive the entries made successively upon a series of individual statements; and, in order that the record-sheet maybe held in place upon (the platen while the feed-rolls are released for the insertion and removal of-the individual statements, a pair of clips are provided. These-clips are shown as cons'sting of spring-fingers 55, carrying rollers 56, which are adapted to bear. upon the record sheet on the platen beyond the side margins of the. individual statement-sheets.

The sp ring fingers 55 are secured to a rearward over the top of Thecarbon-sheet is shown as.

shaft 58. The shaft 58, in turn, is supportflanges 62 on the side pieces 12 of the platenis lifted to release the bar 45 and to permit frame. The shaft 58 is revoluble in the the springs 29 to throw the pressure-rolls brackets 59, but is held against accidental to position for holding the statement-sheet.

rotation by means of rollers 63 on the brack- After typing on a statement-sheet is comets 59, which set into a slot 64 extending pleted, the carriage is thrown rightward for longitudinally the full length of the shaft commencement of writing on another state- .58. Leaf-springs 65 on the'brackets 59 hold ment-sheet. The lever by .wliicli vthe car- I the rolls 63 in the slot 64, but yield to, pcrriage is thusreturned, ordinarily effects a mit the rolls 63 to cam themselves out of single line-space movement of the platen by theslot 64, for rotation of'the shaft 58 whe mechanism not here shown. This results in desired. hen pressure is applied to the a line-space movement of the record-sheet clips 55 to throw the same up to release the 52 and vcarbon so as to prepare the same ,record-sheet, the springs yield to permit- .wheels 81 on the platen-axle 11, or by means the shaft 58 to turn. the next succeeding statement-sheet.

The shaft 58 also serves as a support for It has hereinbefore been stated that one a table or container 7 0 for the blank stateof the objects of the-invention is to provide ment-sheets or billheads 71. For supportmeans for retaining the record-sheet to preing the table on the shaft 58, there is vent disarrangement of the record-sheet riveted to the rear wall of the table a bar when the latter has advanced so far that 75. This bar, beyond the sides of the table its bottom edge is only a short distance 70, has its ends offset downward at 76, and below the printing line. The means for rearward at 77, for attachment to U-shaped this purpose shown in the drawings combrackets 78, similar to the brackets 59. prises a pair of clips 83 of spring metal These brackets 78 are connected to the shaft (see Figure 2), secured to collars 84 held .58 by rollers 79, set in the slot 64 in the to the feed-roll release-shaft 27 by set screws shaft, and held therein by springs 80, in the 85. When the set screws 85 are loosened,

same manner as. the rollers 63. Although the collars S4 with the clips'83 are adjustthis form of attachment of the table 70 to able lengthwise of the platen, along the.

the shaft 58 permits angular movement of shaft 27, accordin to the width. of the i the table, if desired, the prime purpose of record-sheet, or position of the same on the such attachment is to permit the table to platen. In order that the collars 84 may he slid rightward or leftward along the be located on the shaft 27, clear of the rollshaft to any desired position on the carsupporting arms 22 and other parts, the

for receiving the entries to be madeupon ria e. The rollers 79. and slot 64 obviously clips 83 are shown as comprising portions or make a spline connection of the table to the arms 86 extending lengthwise of the platen, shaft 58; and the pressure of the springs laterally outward from spring U-shaped 80 is suflicient to hold the table against 210- portions 87 of the clips at the collars. At cidental rightward or leftward displacethe distal ends of the clip arms 86, fingers ment. It follows, therefore, that the table 88 are upturned therefrom. The fingers, is placeable and detachable as a unit with which are the parts of the clips which press the frame which carries the shaft 58 and upon the record-sheet, have their ends rolled paper-clips 55; so that, when this detachable over at 89 to preventfouling of the paper rame is not present on the machine, the mathereon. chine may be used in the ordinary way with As shown in Figure 1, the clips 83 are out unnecessary incumbrances.

. secured to the top of the shaft 27, and have In operation, the record-sheet 52 and carthe U-shaped portions 87 thereof turned I 'bon 53 are fed around the platen to typing rearward, upward, and forward, over the posltlon, when the feed-rolls 19 are in effecshaft 23, to clear the latter, and to position tive position, by means of the usual handthe fingers 88 just behind the feed-rolls 19. The fingers pass upward to the platen of the usual line-space mechanism,

only a ratchet-wheel 82 on the platen-axle of the apron 18; and thus bear upon the of-which through openings 90 in the forward portion is shown. The paper-finger rollers 56, if record-sheet 52 and on the carbon-sheet 53 not previously applied, are then applied to at the front portion of the platen, below the record-sheet. The operator then passes and near-the printing line; and beyond the a statement-sheet or card down in front of side margins of the individual statementthe platen, in front of the carbon-sheet. As sheets or cards (see Figure 3).

the operators hand moves downward, the Normally, or in the typing position of the operators palm strikes the bar 45 at some parts, the fingers 88 do'not bear upon the point thereof, and throws off the feed rolls, record-sheet, and therefore do not interfere permitting the lower edge of the statementwith line-space feed thereof. VVhen, howplaten be-- ever, the shaft 27 is rocked clockwise (Fig-.

sheet to be passed around the tween the latter and the aproni- 18. When ure 1) to release the feed-rolls 19, the clips the s taten1ent-sheet or card isfin printing 83 are moved against the laten to hold the position on the platen, the operatorshand record-sheet and carbon as shown in Figure 1) whilethe rolls are inreleased position. The proximity of the fingers 88 to the printing line ermits of effective holding of the record-s eet, against displacement during the removal and insertion of workpieces, even though the record-sheet has been advanced until its bottom edge is almost at the printing line; The movement of the shaft 27, in the re-application of the feed-rolls, causes the holding fingers 88 again to be withdrawn from the recordsheet.

Asin patent to JesseA. B. Smith, No. 1,402,804, dated January 10, 1922, here also the usual rear feed-rolls are omitted. The omission of rear feed-rolls permits elimination of holes therefor throu h the apron 18; and the apron, rearward of the front feedrolls, may therefore be smooth and continuous, with nothing for work-pieces to catch onto or foul when such work-pieces are inserted from the front of the platen, rearward over the apron. The holes 90 for th clip fingers 88 may be cut in the apron 18 at any desirable or suitable points thereof.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a front-strike typewriting machine, a platen,spring-clips, below the printing line, effective u on a record-sheet on the platen, but ine ective upon an overlying statementvsheet, for retaining the recordsheet against disarrangement' on the platen, and a rock-shaft on which the spring-clips are mounted for movement between effective a rock-shaft on which the spring-clips are mounted for movement between effective ment between effective and ineffective and ineffective ositions, feed-rolls, and means whereby tiie rock-shaft may release the feed-rolls in the movement thereof which renders the clips effective.

3. In a front-strike typewriting machine, a platen, means, below the printing line, effective upon a record-sheet, but ineffective upon an overlying statement-sheet, for retaining the record-sheet against disarrangement on the platen, a rock-shaft on WhlCll the retaining means are mounted for move- 0S1- tions, and means for adjustingthe position of the retainin means on the rock-shafts, lengthwise ,of t e laten. I

4. In a front-strike typewriting machine, a platen, an apron for guiding a recorddown around under the platen, to the front from the rear thereof, means, below the printing line, effective upon a recordsheet, but ineffective upon an overlying statement-sheet, for retaining the recordsheet against disarrangement on the platen, and means for throwing the retaining means to effective position against the platen; the apron having holes through which the retaining means maystrike to the platen.

5. In a typewriting machine, a platen, an

apron for guiding a record-sheet down around under the laten, to the front from the rear thereof, eed-rolls at the front of the apron co-operating with the platen, means adjacent the feed-rolls for retaining the record-sheet against disarrangement on 'individuai sheet is held to the platen, said means comprising a paper-apron beneath said platen, feed-rolls at the front of.-the paper-apron for feeding both said individual work-sheet and said record-sheet,'re-

taining means to hold said record-sheet to the platen at points beyond theside edges,

of said individual work-sheet, close to and below the typing line, means to hold said record-sheet to the platen beyond the typing line, and castoff means to COIljOlIltlgY operate said feed-rolls and said retaining means,

said cast-off means in one position ap lying said retaining means and casting o said feed-rolls, said paper-apron presenting an unobstructed path for the leading edge of said front-introduced individual work-sheet, and in another position casting off said retaining means and applying said feed-rolls.

7. In a typewriting machine including a platen and typing instrumentalities, means for introducing an individual work-sheet around the platen from the front of the machine to'receive typin thereon and removing said individual s eet while a. (-ondensed record-sheet is held to the platen, said means comprising a paper-apron beneath said platen, feed-rolls mounted adjacent the front of said apron for feeding both said individual work-sheet and said con.-

densed record-sheet, clips co-operative with rendering said clips effective and said feedrolls ineffective, said paper-apron presenting a clear path for the leading edge of said front-introduced individual work-sheet, and

in another position rendering said clips inefiectlve and said feed-rolls effective.

8. In a typewriting machine including a platen and typing instrumentalities, means for introducing an outer individual worksheet around the platen from the front of the machine to receive typing'thereonand removing said individual sheet while an inner record-sheetof greater width than said individual sheet is held to the platen, said means comprising a paper-apron beneath said platen, feed-rolls mounted at the front of said apron to engage the platen for feeding both said individual work-sheet and said record-sheet, clips cooperative with the platen to hold said record-sheet to the platen, said clips mounted to project through said apron at points beyond the side edges of said individual work-sheet, close to and below the typing line, paper-fingers mounted above the platen to hold said record-sheet to the platen beyond the typing line, and cast-off means to conjointly operate said 'feed-rolls and said clips, said eastoif means in one position applying said clips and casting off said feed-rolls, said paper-apron presenting an unobstrnvted path for passage of said individual worksheet, and in another position casting off said clips and applying said feed-rolls.

9. In a typewriting machine, a carriage,-

a platen, a platen-frame on said carriage shiftable to an upper-case position and having side pieces, feed-rolls to co-operate with the platen, a rock-shaft having bearings at pieces of the platen-frame, and a feed-rollreleasing bar mounted on ,the carriage and extending the full length of theplatemsaid rock-shaft operatively connected -to said feed-rolls and to said releasing bar and oper- 4 able in either case-position of said platenframe.

11. In a typewriting machine including a platen and typing instrumentalities, means for introducing an individual work-sheet around the platen from the front of the machine to receive typing thereon and removing said individual sheet while a condensed record-sheet is held to the platen, said means comprising a paper-apron beneath said platen, feed-rolls mounted adjacent the front of said apron for.feeding both said individual work-sheet and said condensed record-sheet, clips cooperative .with' the platen to hold said record sheet to the platen close to and below the typing line, means to hold said record-sheet to the platen above the typing line, and cast-o'fi means to ,conjointly operate said feed-rolls and said clips, said cast-ofi means in one position rendering said cl ps etfectve and said feed-rolls ineffective, said paper-apron pre-- senting a clear path for the leading edge of said front-introduced indiyidual work sheet, and in another position rendering said clips ineffective and said feedrolls effective, said cast-01f means including a rock-shaft for oppositely actuating said feed-rolls and clips, and a releasing bar operatively conneeted to said rock-shaft and mounted to extend the fulllength of the platen at the front of the machine.

12. In a typewriting machine, a platen,

feed-rolls to co-operate with the platen, a-

bar extending lengthwise oi the platen, at thefront thereof, for releasing feedsrolls, means for retaining a work-piece against disarrangeinent on the platen when the bar is actuated to release the rolls, and means for automatically throwing the retaining means to ineffective positionwhen the bar is released.

JESSE A. B; SMITH. 

